Issa London's Daniella Helayel Talks Goddesses and Muses

"This woman is a goddess-type. She won't go unnoticed. She's not scared of getting dressed, of feeling good," designer Daniella Helayel told ELLE.com backstage after Saturday night's Issa London show. The collection was infused with '70s glamour, technicolor florals, and vibrant floor-length gowns, perfect for a summer of jet-setting or island-hopping.

While the label may be known for its super-wearable wrap dresses, bold prints and animal motifs inspired by the Garden of Eden were the collection's show-stoppers. "We tried to create a very exotic garden, that was more like a forest, more like a mix from the underwater to the highest skies," the Brazilian-born designer explained.

Issa has attracted some big-name clients in

recent years, with Kate Middleton choosing an elegant navy wrap dress from the label to announce her engagement in 2010, and Pippa Middleton a regular wearer of the brand. While there was no sign of the Middleton sisters at the show, Harley Viera-Newton, Leigh Lezark, and Kelly Brook took their places on the glossy front row. Asked if she now designs with such celebrity types in mind, Helayel laughed a little. "No, no," she said. "I still design for myself and for my friends! And all kinds of women who want to wear it and to feel good. The feel-good must be there."

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